Assessment of the main factors affecting the dynamics of nutrients in two rainfed cereal watersheds.

Nutrient dynamics and factors that control nutrient exports were observed in two watersheds, namely Latxaga and La Tejería, with similar climatic and management characteristics throughout 10 years (2007-2016). Similar patterns were observed in intra-annual and inter-annual dynamics with higher NO3- concentration and NO3--N yield during the humid seasons (i.e., winters and hydrological year 2013). Regarding concentration, Latxaga showed a higher decrease of nitrate due to a higher development of vegetated areas. High discharge events produced nitrate dilution due to the presence of tile-drainage at La Tejeria. At Latxaga, where tile-drainage was not observed, an increase in concentration occurred as a response to high discharge events. Comparing both watersheds, La Tejería presented ca. 73 ±â€¯25 mg NO3- L-1 while at Latxaga, the concentration observed was almost three times lower, with ca. 21 ±â€¯15 mg NO3- L-1 throughout the study period. Similar patterns were observed for the NO3--N yield, with 32 kg NO3--N ha-1 year-1 and 17 kg NO3--N ha-1 year-1 at La Tejería and Latxaga, respectively. Regarding phosphorous, the observed concentrations were 0.20 ±â€¯0.72 mg PO43- L-1 and 0.06 ±â€¯0.38 mg PO43- L-1 at La Tejería and Latxaga, respectively, with PO43--P yields being 71 kg PO43--P ha-1 year-1 and 33 kg PO43--P ha-1 year-1. Annual phosphate-P yield distribution in both watersheds followed similar patterns to those observed for the nitrate-N yield, with higher yields in the humid season. Regarding concentration, highly erosive rainfall that occurred in summer, mobilizing sediments and probably generating desorption of phosphorous in the stream channel, increased phosphate concentration. This research adds to the knowledge base regarding the dynamics of nutrients and the controlling factors in complex agricultural systems with Mediterranean characteristics.

Highway paving in the southwestern Amazon alters long-term trends and drivers of regional vegetation dynamics.

Infrastructure development, specifically road paving, contributes socio-economic benefits to society worldwide. However, detrimental environmental effects of road paving have been documented, most notably increased deforestation. Beyond deforestation, we hypothesize that road paving introduces "unseen" regional scale effects on forests, due to changes to vegetation dynamics. To test this hypothesis, we focus on the tri-national frontier in the southwestern Amazon that has been subject to construction of the Inter-Oceanic Highway (IOH) between 1987 and 2010. We use a long-term remotely sensed vegetation index as a proxy for vegetation dynamics and combine these with field-based socio-ecological data and biophysical data from global datasets. We find 4 areas of shared vegetation dynamics associated with increasing extent of road paving. Applying Dynamic Factor Analysis, an exploratory dimension-reduction time series analysis technique, we identify common trends and covariates in each area. Common trends, indicating underlying unexplained effects, become relatively less important as paving increases, and covariates increase in importance. The common trends are dominated by lower frequency signals possibly embodying long-term climate variability. Human-related covariates become more important in explaining vegetation dynamics as road paving extent increases, particularly family density and travel time to market. Natural covariates such as minimum temperature and soil moisture become less important. The change in vegetation dynamics identified in this study indicates a possible change in ecosystem services along the disturbance gradient. While this study does not include all potential factors controlling dynamics and disturbance of vegetation in the region, it offers important insights for management and mitigation of effects of road paving projects. Infrastructure planning initiatives should make provisions for more detailed vegetation monitoring after road completion, with a broader focus than just deforestation. The study highlights the need to mitigate population-driven pressures on vegetation like family density and access to new markets.

Sustained attention as a potential endophenotype for bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, it is accepted that to identify the biological basis of psychiatric illnesses it would be useful to deconstruct them into the most basic manifestations, such as cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to set attention deficit as a stable vulnerability marker of bipolar disorder. METHOD: Sustained attention was evaluated by the Continuous Performance Test (DS-CPT) in 143 euthymic bipolar patients and 105 controls. To estimate the influence of clinical profile in attention, patients completed a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: Bipolar patients showed a deficit in attention during euthymic periods. This disturbance correlated with years of evolution, age of onset and age of first hospitalisation; and was not influenced by other clinical data. CONCLUSION: Sustained attention may be considered as an endophenotype of the illness.

[Role of transforming growth factor beta-1 gene polymorphisms in the development of chronic allograft nephropathy in renal transplant recipients]. / Papel de los polimorfismos del gen del transforming growth factor beta 1 en el desarrollo de nefropatía crónica del injerto en pacientes trasplantados renales.

BACKGROUND: Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) is the main cause of graft loss after the first year of transplantation, and renal biopsies show a predominance of fibrotic lesions. Human transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta 1) is the principal profibrogenetic cytokine which has been recently implicated in the development of CAN. Seven TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms have been recently described and some of them have been related to the development of several diseases. AIM: To analyse the relationship between TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms and the development of CAN in a group of renal transplant patients with a long-term follow-up. METHODS: A restriction enzyme-based method for TGF-beta 1 genotyping was used to detect four TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms in codon 10, 25 and 5'-flanking region (-800 and -509 positions). A retrospective case-control study were performed on sixty renal transplant recipients with 8 years of post-transplant, 22 of them with CAN (cases) and 38 with normal graft function (controls). We studied 73 subjects to analyse the distribution of the genotypes in the area. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies were similar in the study and control group. The presence of chronic allograft nephropathy was statistically associated with the combination Pro/Pro10 TT509 polymorphism in the TGF-beta 1 gene, and these patients develop chronic rejection more quickly than the rest of the patients. Chronic allograft nephropathy was also associated with delta age recipient-donor, with older donors being a significant risk factor for chronic nephropathy. The logistic regression analysis confirmed the independent role of TT509 Pro/Pro10 TGF-beta 1 polymorphism with a Odd Ratio of 5.8 (1.14-29.7) in chronic nephropathy being the delta age recipient-donor a confounder factor but not an effect modifier. The rest of the TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms and the classic risk factors were not associated with the development of chronic allograft nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a leading role for TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms (TT509 Pro/Pro10) in the development of chronic allograft nephropathy. The identification of this genetic predisposition to chronic allograft rejection could play a decisive role in the prevention of this common pathology.

Papel de los polimorfismos del gen del transforming growth factor beta1 en el desarrollo de nefropatía crónica del injerto en pacientes trasplantados renales / Role of transforming growth factor beta-1 gene polymorphisms in the development of chronic allograft nephropathy in renal transplant recipients

La nefropatía crónica del injerto renal (NCIR) es la principal causa de pérdida del injerto después del primer año post-trasplante y en la biopsia renal encontramos un predominio de las lesiones fibróticas. El transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) es la principal citoquina profibrogenética y ha sido implicada en el mecanismo de producción de la NCIR. Se han descrito varios polimorfismos del gen del TGF-β1, algunos de ellos se han relacionado con el desarrollo de enfermedades. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la posible relación entre estos polimorfismos y el desarrollo de NCIR en un grupo de pacientes trasplantados renales con largo tiempo de seguimiento. Mediante enzimas de restricción identificamos cuatro polimorfismos del gen del TGF-β en el codon 10, 25 y en -800 y -509 (en el promotor). Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles donde se estudiaron 60 pacientes trasplantados renales con 8 años de seguimiento post-trasplante, 22 de ellos con NCIR (casos) y 38 con normofunción (controles), analizamos también población general para el estudio de la distribución genotípica en el área geográfica (grupo control externo, n = 73). Las frecuencias genotípicas fueron similares en el grupo control y de estudio. La presencia de NCIR se asoció de forma significativa con la combinación de los polimorfismos Pro/Pro10 TT-509 del gen del TGF-β1 y estos pacientes además desarrollaron NCIR de forma más precoz que el resto. La NCIR se asoció también con la diferencia de edad entre el receptor y el donante (Δ edad r-d), siendo los donantes mayores que el receptor un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de NCIR. El análisis mediante regresión logística confirmó el papel independiente del polimorfismo TT509 Pro/Pro10 en la NCIR, con un Odd Ratio de 5,8 (1,14-29,7), siendo la edad Δ r-d un parámetro que no modifica el proceso de formas más determinante que el polimorfismo, pero pudiendo añadir al efecto de éste un carácter más marcado. Estos datos sugieren un papel importante de los polimorfismos del gen del TGF-β1 en el desarrollo de NCIR (TT509Pro/Pro10). La identificación de esta predisposición genética para el desarrollo de NCIR podría jugar un papel decisivo en la prevención de esta frecuente patología

Background: Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) is the main cause of graft loss after the first year of transplantation, and renal biopsies show a predominance of fibrotic lesions. Human transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) is the principal profibrogenetic cytokine which has been recently implicated in the development of CAN. Seven TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms have been recently described and some of them have been related to the development of several diseases. Aim: to analyse the relationship between TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and the development of CAN in a group of renal transplant patients with a long-term follow- up. Methods: a restriction enzyme-based method for TGF-β1 genotyping was used to detect four TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms in codon 10, 25 and 5’-flanking region (-800 and -509 positions). A retrospective case-control study were performed on sixty renal transplant recipients with 8 years of post-transplant, 22 of them with CAN (cases) and 38 with normal graft function (controls). We studied 73 subjects to analyse the distribution of the genotypes in the area. Results: the genotype frequencies were similar in the study and control group. The presence of chronic allograft nephropathy was statistically associated with the combination Pro/Pro10 TT509 polymorphism in the TGF-β1 gene, and these patients develop chronic rejection more quickly than the rest of the patients. Chronic allograft nephropathy was also associated with Δ age recipient-donor, with older donors being a significant risk factor for chronic nephropathy. The logistic regression analysis confirmed the independent role of TT509 Pro/Pro10 TGF-β1 polymorphism with a Odd Ratio of 5.8 (1.14-29.7) in chronic nephropathy being the Δ age recipient-donor a confounder fator but not an effect modifier. The rest of the TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and the classic risk factors were not associated with the development of chronic allograft nephropathy. Conclusions: these data suggest a leading role for TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms (TT509Pro/Pro10) in the development of chronic allograft nephropathy. The identification of this genetic predisposition to chronic allograft rejection could play a decisive role in the prevention of this common pathology

Aplicaciones de la biología molecular en el trasplante renal / Mollecular biology in renal transplantation

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Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma: report of a case. Immunohistochemical study and review of the literature.

Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma is a rare malignant odontogenic tumour characterized by a benign epithelial component within a malignant fibrous stroma. Its behaviour is relatively benign, with absence of metastatic disease, and the prognosis is reported to be good. It is a paradoxical neoplasm with "sarcomatous" morphological and immunohistochemical patterns but with a favourable clinical course. We report a new case of this tumour in a mandibular ramus of a 31-years-old male patient, that was surgically excised and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Five years later the patient is free of disease. The growth potential of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma is evaluated and compared with a related lesion, the ameloblastic fibroma. The sarcomatous mesenchymal component of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma is positive to Ki67, PCNA and p53, in front of the negativity of ameloblastic fibroma.

Role of transforming growth factor-beta1 in the progression of chronic allograft nephropathy.

Chronic allograft nephropathy is the principal cause of late graft loss after the first year of renal transplantation. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a key fibrogenetic cytokine involved in the fibrosis of a number of chronic diseases of the kidney and other organs, and recently evidence has shown that TGF-beta1 is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic renal allograft dysfunction. Production of TGF-beta1 in these circumstances may be modulated by the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin II induces TGF-beta1 production and secretion by the mesangial cells) and by a direct effect of cyclosporin A, which stimulates the synthesis and expression of TGF-beta1. In a prospective study of 14 renal transplant patients exhibiting chronic graft nephropathy, we demonstrated that treatment with losartan significantly decreased plasma levels of TGF-beta1 by >50%. There was a significant correlation (P=0.04) between the increase in circulating angiotensin II after 2 weeks and the decrease in plasma TGF-beta(1) at the end of the study period, suggesting that the degree of angiotensin II receptor blockade plays a decisive role in the synthesis of TGF-beta1. A significant decrease in circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels also occurred during treatment with losartan, together with a decrease in proteinuria. In a randomized 2x2 crossover study, the effects of losartan and amlodipine on renal haemodynamics and on profibrogenetic cytokines were analysed. Whereas amlodipine increased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through an increase in the FF and P(G), losartan slightly decreased the GFR, but with a significant decrease in FF and P(G). With respect to the profibrogenetic cytokines, losartan decreased the plasma levels of TGF-beta1 and ET-1, while amlodipine did not significantly change TGF-beta1 and slightly increased ET-1.

Genetic and clinical characterisation of maturity-onset diabetes of the young in Spanish families.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequencies of the major maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) subtypes in a panel of Spanish families and to assess phenotypic differences in patients with the different subtypes of MODY. METHODS: Forty-eight subjects from twenty families with clinical diagnosis of MODY were studied. They underwent a standardised clinical examination and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Estimations of insulin sensitivity (%S) and insulin secretion capacity (%B) were calculated by the computer-solved homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Mutations in the coding regions of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4alpha/MODY1, glucokinase (GCK/MODY2) and HNF-1alpha/MODY3 genes were investigated by single strand comformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Mutations in the GCK and HNF-1alpha genes were observed in 5 (25%) and 7 (35%) families respectively. Novel mutations included R385X, M238fsdelT, V226fsdelTinsAA and S418-7del11 in the GCK gene, and S121fsdelC, V133M, R159Q and V259D in the HNF-1alpha gene. No MODY1 families were found. Subjects which were neither MODY2 nor MODY3 (MODY-X) had a higher fasting glucose than subjects in the other groups. Insulin secretion capacity was similar in the three groups and the insulin sensitivity was decreased in MODY-X subjects. Glucose levels were significantly higher and insulin levels significantly lower, throughout the OGTT, in MODY3 compared with MODY2 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in the GCK/MODY2 and HNF-1alpha/MODY3 genes account for the majority of cases in a panel of Spanish MODY families, with MODY3 being the most frequent subtype. The relative frequencies and the clinical characteristics of these MODY subtypes are in agreement with data previously reported in other European populations. MODY-X patients seem to present a heterogeneous clinical profile.

[Bronchial asthma caused by occupational sulfite exposure]. / Asma bronquial por exposición laboral a sulfitos.

A case is reported of a patient with episodes of bronchospasm requiring hospital admission after handling sodium bisulfite on the job. The patient had a 15-year history of bronchial asthma and concomitant rhinoconjunctivitis and a 6-year history of asthma induced by moderate exercise. His family history included a father with sensitization to mites. Skin tests, measurement of specific IgI, and nasal provocation were positive for domestic dust mites and grass pollen. Skin tests for sodium metasulfite at a concentration of 10 mg/ml were negative. A simple blind oral provocation test of sodium metasulfite (1, 5, 20, and 50 mg) in acid medium was positive at the 50-mg dose, eliciting bronchial and nasal symptoms, and a decrease in CVF, FEV1, and PEF of more than 20% over baseline values. The episode of bronchospasm has not recurred in the workplace since exposure to sodium bisulfite was eliminated. Oral provocation with metasulfite in acid medium is considered a good technique for confirming the diagnosis of these cases.

Hypersensitivity to mustard seed.

Two patients were studied. Both underwent a thorough clinical evaluation, including a comprehensive physical examination. Both were also prick tested for inhalants, pollens, and food (including fruit). A nasal provocation test, serum immunoglobulins, total IgE serum, specific IgE serum, and a histamine release test were also carried out. The results of all these tests were positive to mustard seed.

[Occupational hypersensitivity to spiramycin. Report of a case]. / Hipersensibilidad ocupacional a espiramicina. A propósito de un caso.

A case report of occupational hypersensitivity to Spiramycin. Rhinoconjunctivitis and spasmodic cough are reported in a 34 year-old female handling spiramycin powder in a pharmaceutical factory. The symptoms appeared within the first few hours of coming into contact with the drug and continued for several hours after leaving her place of work. The patient had no personal case history of atopy. Results for prick-test with extracts using a concentration of 1/100 (w/v) were positive, as were results por intradermical tests with a solution using a concentration of 1/10.000 (w/v). The diagnostic was confirmed with the application of a nasal provocation test. Our criteria to determine positivity to this test was according to Bachman (1) and the European Committee of Rhinomanometry. On our suggestion the patient was transferred to another section of the pharmaceutical company whereupon all symptoms disappeared immediately and no further allergic reactions to drugs were registered. This case suggest that reactions to a chemical product may involve immunological mechanisms.